George Cave apple
A very early English apple, popular as a garden apple variety.
George Cave is an early English apple, ripening in early/mid August. It has a pleasing appearance, and like many summer apples can vary in colour from its basic green/yellow colour to all-over red depending on where the apple is exposed to the sun.
The flavour is typical of early English apples, lacking any of the aromatic qualities found in later season varieties, and basically just tasting of "apple". The main distinguishing feature of the flavour is that it is somewhat stronger and more intense than other early season varieties. The flesh has some crispness straight from the tree and is moderately juicy, but softens within a few hours of picking, and becomes dry and mealy within a few days - this is an apple that is at its best on the day of picking.
George Cave is not widely-grown, but it retains a following and many fruit tree nurseries list it in their catalogues, and the apples are sometimes available from small farms and orchards.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Origin: Essex, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1923
- Developed by: Mr George Cave
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 156900
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Green Pale green/yellow but can be entirely flushed with red
- Fruit size: Medium
- Bultitude apple group: 4. Flushed / striped, smooth, dessert / dual-purpose
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Flavour quality: Average
- Flavour style: Sharper
- Ripening period: Early season
- Use / keeping: 1-3 days
Growing
- Cropping: Light
- Flowering period: Mid season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-fertile Not all authorities agree it is self-fertile.
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Average growth
- Gardening skill: Average
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
George Cave identification photos from official fruit collections
ARS GRIN
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George Cave identification photos from website visitors
Fruit tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.
The following George Cave trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United Kingdom
- Kevinincornwall in LISKEARD, UNITED KINGDOM
- Kevinincornwall in LISKEARD, UNITED KINGDOM
Mature heights for George Cave trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a George Cave tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 2.5 ft 0.8 m |
3.1 ft 0.9 m |
3.7 ft 1.1 m |
4.3 ft 1.3 m |
4.9 ft 1.5 m |
| M27 | 2.8 ft 0.9 m |
3.5 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
4.9 ft 1.5 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
| M9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| Bud.9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| Geneva 16 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.9 ft 1.5 m |
6.1 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.6 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
| M26 | 5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.6 ft 2.0 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.2 ft 2.8 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
| Geneva 30 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
| MM102 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
| M7 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| M116 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| MM106 | 7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.8 ft 2.7 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.3 ft 3.8 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
| MM111 | 8.4 ft 2.6 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
14.7 ft 4.5 m |
16.8 ft 5.2 m |
| Bud.118 | 9.1 ft 2.8 m |
11.4 ft 3.5 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
15.9 ft 4.9 m |
18.2 ft 5.6 m |
| M25 | 10.5 ft 3.2 m |
13.1 ft 4.0 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
18.4 ft 5.6 m |
21.0 ft 6.4 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apples
No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.
Rate this variety for flavor